Matching safety for prospective CS student [MA resident, 3.8/1330, $0 parent contribution]

I remain hopeful that once the FAFSA is complete, you will qualify for the aid you need at some of the 4-year schools on your list.

But I am concerned that if that falls through, you need to have a guaranteed route to an education that you can afford. Even the most hardworking student will find it difficult to earn more than $15,000/year while juggling classes full-time. College calendars and low-wage work schedules are generally not conducive to that (assuming you are not a well-paid “influencer” or something).

So. I am wondering if it is possible for you to move to Boston after graduation, if necessary, and take advantage of the free community college program I linked to above. Boston is expensive and you would have to pay for your own room and board, but maybe with a job, roommates, etc., you could do it.

That gives you a path to direct admission to a 4-year school in a few years. Paying for that will still be a challenge. As long as you are under 24 and unmarried with no children of your own, the government believes your parents should contribute to your college education and will normally include their income in FAFSA for determining how much aid you are eligible for; it is very difficult to get an override even if you are IN FACT self-supporting.

So that means if you are able to make more than the minimum needed for room and board, you will need to be siphoning it away for future tuition.

Other alternatives: enlisting in the armed forces or getting a job at an employer who will pay your tuition, like Target or Starbucks or Amazon (recognizing it means attending a fully online accredited program in many cases).

I realize none of these options are the most attractive to you. As a said, I hope you get the aid you seek. I just think it is important to have a back-up plan.

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